You know how growing up your Mom always told you that if someone doesn’t like you, then it’s their loss? That may work on the playground, but that sure isn’t true in the business world! When it comes to business, if people don’t like your brand, that’s definitely your loss! So how exactly you go about being likeable, and why should you care anyways?

How to Be LikeableEveryone wants their business to be well-liked, but knowing how to accomplish that can seem a little scary or confusing. Never fear though, these three tips will earn yoau a one-way ticket to Likeable City!

Be AuthenticAuthenticity equals likability. Brands that are true to who they are gain points with their target audiences for just being themselves because it’s a refreshing change. People like it when they feel like brands aren’t just putting out carefully planned messages of what they think people want to hear. For this reason more authentic brands are considered more trust-worthy and user-friendly.

Be FunnyBrands that are funny get people talking and sharing. The more a brand feels like a friend rather than a company, the more likable that brand will be. With perceptions around humor in business changing for the better, brands that find ways to pick fun at themselves and entertain their audiences are earning more followers and customers.

Be TransparentIn the wake of some really high-profile unscrupulous business schemes and data breaches over the last few years, transparency is more important than ever before. Being transparent about business operations is a great way to be likeable in a way that’s truly meaningful. Even if some members of your audience disapprove of something they learn about your business, they’ll still respect you for being transparent in the first place.

Why Should You Care?Now that you know how to be likeable, let’s focus on why it matters.

Positive Brand ImageObviously, the biggest reason for wanting to be liked is to achieve a positive brand image. The brand lift associated with being liked and respected by your audience cannot be underestimated!

AuthorityWhen people like a business and social buzz builds, a certain halo effect is achieved. Likability becomes popularity and popularity equates authority in the minds of a target audience. Essentially, the more people like a brand, the more they’re willing to trust information coming from that brand. This established authority can create additional lucrative opportunities for a brand.

ProfitabilityIf nothing else convinces you that being likeable is important, consider this one fact – people buy from brands that they like. When was the last time you bought something you didn’t really need or spent a little more to shop from a business that you really love? Chances are that it wasn’t that long ago because as consumers we can’t help ourselves, we want to give business to brands that have won us over as fans!

Kate Pierce is the owner of LionShark Digital Marketing LLC, a West Michigan internet marketing company. Her areas of expertise include Paid Search, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Web Consulting for small businesses, Copywriting and Local Online Marketing. She lives in the Grand Rapids area with her husband and enjoys cooking, watching sports and spending time outdoors. Like a true digital marketing expert (i.e. geek), she loves talking about marketing theory and SEM trends… so don’t say you weren’t warned!